by Dick Dickinson
September brought the end of the season and one of the most anticipated events of the season, The Octoberfest. With that event comes the eternal question, "Have you steined yet?" Each year the Sports Car Club of La Crosse presents ceramic steins to the class winners of the event. These are sought after by the contestants and cherished by the winners. They are unique. September 16th dawned with threatening skies. Undeterred, 42 drivers arrived to contest for the steins. The event is hallmarked by the camaraderie of the drivers. It’s the season wrap-up, with the past season's races being rehashed and next season's plans being discussed. The new timing equipment performed flawlessly. With five runs per contestant, the drivers were adjourned to Features Sports Bar for burgers and steining. Those who capture the stein, treasure the stein. Octoberfest was, is, and will continue to be a memorable event.
There is some news from La Crosse for next year. Features Sports Bar will sponsor the trophies for 2002. This may lead to the return of the older larger stein suitable for use while imbibing. La Crosse will schedule their traditional three
events for next year, the Sunday before Memorial Day, the first weekend in August, and the Octoberfest in September. La Crosse is working with Chippewa Sports Car Club towards a June or July weekend. For those of you who are event masters, plan your dates now. Let's make the 2002 Land O'Lakes Championship Series a memorable season.
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hijacked and deliberately crashed with passengers aboard. That plus the fact that we had visited those same towers in early August on another beautiful day, when there had to be at least 10,000 people in the shopping and park areas below and around the towers (not to mention the other tens of thousands working upstairs.) It was obvious the death toll would be staggering, as both flaming towers crashed to the ground. Over the following weeks the full extent of the tragedy has been revealed.
Although sporting events the following weekend were quickly cancelled, it was decided that the SCCA Valvoline Runoffs would proceed as scheduled. Difficult as the decision had to be, I feel it was the correct course of action. First, there was the logistic problem of canceling at the last minute, with a large percentage of thousands of competitors and staff already in the final stage of preparation and possibly already on the road to Mid-Ohio. Then there was the simple fact that if terrorist acts cause massive disruption of our
lives, the strategy is proven successful and will invite additional attack. So despite the fact that two SCCA members are known to have perished in the crashes, plus untold hundreds more have been directly affected, the show would go on. I assume this was good news to the almost dozen (highest number in some time) LOL drivers whose Runoffs entries had been accepted, plus to dozens more planning to work the event. Even before the attacks, my work schedule had been revised and it would be impossible to get to Mid-Ohio again this year. Except for a conversation with Steve Thomson and crew after the race, all my info comes straight from the SCCA website where race notes and quotes give a detailed breakdown of each race. Speedvision will broadcast complete races over a two month period stretching from October through December. Those lucky enough to receive the programs should check their local schedule. With the event moved up to September, no snow fell on the racers but it rained most of Wednesday, and several of Friday’s races were either in rain or on a wet track. A recap of LOL and former LOL competitors involved includes: CSR- Wally Butler capped another excellent season and turned in the highest LOL finish with a podium appearance in third. In GP former LOL RE Lona Bradbury finished 16th in a large 31 car field. Steve Jondal wound up 10th in what has become an annual appearance in F500. Bobby Archer (now from Texas) was 6th in T1 in a Viper. Jim
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Tonneau On-Line November 2001
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Copyright 2001, Land O'Lakes Region Last revised: March 13, 2003
